Friday, October 23, 2015

WHY USA, CHINA AND RUSSIA ARE NOT POPULAR ON THE INTERNATIONAL CRICKET SCENE ?

It
is true, a game originating or associated with the British empiremight not
necessarily be popular in the USA, CHINA OR RUSSIA. The game of cricket is a
bat and ball game played between two teams of 11 players each (with
substitution). Played by over 100 million people around the world, it is the
second most popular sport in the world.Up until recently the cricket governing body
(international cricket council) did not recognize the countries Russia, China
and USA.

The USA was suspended by the ICC for some
administrative problems in 2007 but later recognized in 2008. Several reasons
amount to its low patronage in the United States, the most notable and early
reasons are said to be two in number. First, when the council was 'imperial
cricket conference' in 1909, it was only open to Commonwealth nations. It was
later renamed to ICC, then the U.S. Got admitted in 1965. Secondly, due to the
above reason and some environmental and atmospheric factors, the rise of
baseball displaced it in the 19thcentury. The popularity of the game in the United States is boosted by
the growing number of immigrants in recent years. It can also be encouraged
through television broadcast, like when ESPN steps up its coverage recently,
buying a cricket website 'Cricinfo' in the process and covering the 2014 ICC
T20 competition. A 2006 report establish that an estimated 30,000 play or watch
the game annually.

Russia on the other hand was recognized by
the ICC in 2012. The Russian federation got its first cricket academy in Moscow
that same year. The story of the development of cricket in Russia has many
dimensions, notable and foremost of which is the impediment to it's spread by
the communist revolution of 1917. The game as at that time was seen as an
affair of the 'bourgeois' and so playing it was greatly discouraged among the
populace.

The 'China national cricket team' (the
cricket team representing people’s Republic of China) Became a member of ICC in
2004. One of the main discouragement is their poor performance in the
international competition, who would want to continue watching a game where his
country is performing woefully or booted out in the group stage match. That was
the fate of China's national team when they took part in the ICC t20 cup in the
United Arab emirates. They lost their first match to Afghanistan, lost by a
wide margin all the group matches, the last of which is the eleventh place play
off with Bahrain, finishing twelveth.

The Popularity of the game is not dependent
on how developed a country is but rather its appeal to the audience. My
thoughts are, its origination (UK) and because most of thecountriesinvolved
were former British colonies, Commonwealth nations. Things to be done to
attract other countries involves using the modern T20 cricket. It is flashy,
accessible and entertaining because it is made for screen viewing (television).
The ICC should also work with the countries to promote the game in high schools
and universities.

HMS Khalid
10/23/2015 12:57:00 AM

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I am from Morocco and in my country football "soccer" is the most popular sport. Our national team didn't win a lot of matches recently but it's the favorite sports for almost all Moroccan people, especially men. It's not unusual to see many boys playing football at street.Unfortunately, Cricket is really an unknown sport in Morocco.

I know a little about cricket games. But when the article say : Cricket is the second-most popular sport in the world", I don't agree. there is many sport are most famouse than criket, like basketball, tennis.Also, I've never heard of popular cricket player name. whereas every body know Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, michael jordan, Shaquille O'Neal.